Becky Thompson and a group of Burns Lake volunteers are the aftereffects of the Babine blast, and they're warning support agencies to be ready.
So far the town is holding steady since the deadly blast at Babine Forest Products killed two workers, injured several others and decimated the town's main source of employment.
People are holding on, said Thompson, but some only barely. She and some others have been working with the Burns Lake Food Bank, and other food providers around the province, to distribute hampers to those in need.
That includes the families of logging truckers and other forest workers who did not work directly for Babine, but did the jobs out in the bush that supplied the mill with logs.
More than 200 names are on her list.
"Those guys are going to have a little bit of income for awhile, but once breakup hits, if they haven't found work by then, that's when they will really get nailed," she said.
One family was in a perfect storm of misfortune. The father had been underemployed but finally got the secure, well-paying job at Babine that appeared to be the answer they were looking for.
Three days later the blast occurred. Now he, his stay-at-home wife, and their two small children are scrambling for menial jobs (competing with other Babine victims in need of cash) because he hadn't been there long enough to qualify for Employment Insurance.
Thompson praised the quick actions of government to get benefits flowing quickly, Good Samaritan employers like Huckelberry Mine and Endako Mine for creating spaces for displaced workers, counselling services for deploying emotional support workers, and others who have gone above and beyond the call of duty in this crisis.
"Lake Babine Nation has been phenomenal," she said. "I can't say enough about all the ways they have helped everybody. It has been incredibly moving and healing on so many levels. There is not even words for it."
Every Thursday at the Island Gospel Fellowship Church there is a group counselling session where affected people can come and share their worries and stresses together.
That joint healing is the biggest surprise reaction for Thompson, who had three family members and many friends directly involved in the blast.
"People are really healing already in some ways, but there were some serious physical traumas from those who were hurt. They have a new normal to figure out, for the rest of their lives. There is anger, there are questions, there is worry for the future. We have to be there for them, and it will be that way for years."
The phones have been ringing at their usual pace at the region's crisis line, but Verna MacLeod, executive director for the Crisis Centre for Northern B.C., said staff and volunteers are mindful that this could change.
"It's a wait and see thing," she said. "I wouldn't expect there to be [a spike in calls] initially, because they have lots of support in other ways. What I would more likely expect is to see something later on if work doesn't come through or the resources slow down."
Burns Lake RCMP commanding officer Staff Sgt. Grant MacDonald has lived in Burns Lake only a few months but is already impressed by the resilience of his new hometown.
"I know in some situations like this you'll see spikes in drug and alcohol abuse, and all the effects that brings, but it has been early since the explosion and we have seen no changes in those patterns," MacDonald said.
He also acknowledges that negative effects may take a while to arise, however what will also become obvious are the ways people stepped up to help and heal.
"Down the road, three or four years, when you have a chance to look back, you will see the tragedy, but you will also see the strengths that became clear, motivated by that tragedy. It speaks to the character of this community."
For anyone in emotional need, the region's crisis lines are available:
Adult can call: 250-563-1214 in Prince George or or 1-888-562-1214 anywhere in northern B.C.
Youth can call: 250-564-8336 in Prince George or 1-888-564-8336 anywhere in northern B.C. Youth can also use the online chat room at www.northernyouthonline.ca.
